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yurimother · 5 years

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LGBTQ Manga Review - Cocoon Entwined Volume 1

I feel fairly confident in my assessments and observations of yuri works. I am comfortable openly stating what I like and do not like and providing critical analysis based on my knowledge and experience within the genre. However, as I read Cocoon Entwined, whatever faith I have in my authority goes right out the window like the punk teenage lesbian in a coming of age story. There are aspects of this story such as the importance of heirlooms and reverence for hair that I do not know the first thing about. I can comment on the story, characters, and yuri elements, but I fear that the deeper elements of the manga may elude me. However, my apprehensions will never stop me from enjoying and reviewing a yuri series. Cocoon Entwined is a schoolgirl yuri manga by Yuriko Hara which follows the exploits of the young women at the elite Hoshimiya Girls’ Academy.

Immediately, Cocoon Entwined presents as a class S narrative. It is set in an elite, idealistic all-girls’ school and there does not appear to be any sexual attraction just admiration between the girls. However, this judgment, while only a hair’s breadth away from the truth, does not exactly fit the work. There are elements of the manga that confuse its genre. Horror elements are peppered in via the eerie atmosphere and there are the makings of real relationships and romance within Hoshimiya Academy. The presence of such hidden feelings may be masquerading beneath what is presented in the first volume and, if they do exist, may elevate this work beyond the confines of S.

The story of Cocoon Entwined is disjointed, frequently flitting between different perspectives and points in time. This method of storytelling results in a confusing narrative twisted between the characters. At times the story can be frustratingly difficult to follow, a fact not helped by the characters, who can easily be confused for each other. Sadly, there is nothing to pull these strands of the story together yet. These factors make the work read like an anthology within a shared world rather than one cohesive story. However, many individual sections of this narrative display real promise, even if they are not woven together effectively.

One of the most intriguing and compelling chapters sees Hana Saeki, the beloved and admired prince of the school, catch the mysterious and distant Hoshimiya, granddaughter of the headmistress, as the latter girl dives out of a window. The two students run away from the school together, escaping the perfect and idealized environment where they both have to assume their certain roles for a brief moment. The encounter is fascinating and effectively creates a bond between the two.

Cocoon Entwined excels is in its setting and atmosphere. There is a tradition in the school of girls growing their hair out to incredible flowing lengths. During the third year of high school, the girls cut their hair so that it can be passed down to a younger classmate in the form of their school uniforms. The school uniforms being made out of hair has a large intrinsic "ick" factor that for many may be impossible to overcome. However, assuming one can stomach the notion, there are some interesting observations to be made.

The young women are poised and elegant, letting their hair grow and protecting it above all else. Having insufficient hair to create a uniform is seen as shameful, and passing the hair down is a proud tradition. The greater ideas here are that of tradition and heirlooms. The way the hair is treated with reverence and then passed on is wonderfully intriguing and creepy. The uniforms themselves are seen as special, and frequently are described as “breathing.” The whole manga is blessed by this wonderful and oddity that can send shivers down your spine, adding greatly to the setting. It is so disturbing and haunting that the manga feels more like an atmospheric horror work than a romance.

Sadly, while the atmosphere is amazing chilling and individual scenes contain hints of brilliance, Cocoon Entwined does very little in this first volume. There is no real central plot or conflict driving the narrative forward the work greatly suffers for this. Such a plot could also help to pull the disjointed stories together and help streamline the story. The ending hints at some real story and there is plenty of potential for one but this volume does little except introduce the reader to Hoshimiya Academy.

The manga also suffers due to its poorly written characters. The story revolves around three different girls, chief among these is Saeki. Although she is beloved by her fellow students and adored as the prince, she is something of an outsider, being a commuter student. Saeki also privately rejects her title of prince except in one case, when Hoshimiya uses it. However, despite being the most developed of the characters, she does not have any growth and rarely responds to other characters effectively, save the one aforementioned scene with Hoshimiya.

Hoshimiya herself is a tired trope of a character. She is the elite untouchable girl that no one knows anything about. The only moment with her that sticks out in the whole volume is when she cuts part of her hair and gives it to Saeki. This action, her lack of veneration for her hair puts her in contrast with the other girls of the academy. This action could have great implications, but again the volume does nothing with it.

Finally, there is the timid and fragile Youko Yokozawa. She spends the majority of the manga looking depressed and tearful despite having no reason to. Like Saeki, she is a commuter student, and one of the few people that can see past the facade of the prince. Her connection to Saeki leads her to develop feelings for the prince and become part of her inner world, knowing her secret. However, this bond feels unsupported and weak. Aside from being sad and interested in Saeki, Yokozawa has no real characteristics. Hopefully, future volumes will explore her a bit more.

None of the main characters have much personality and the connections between them feel unsupported. There are whispers of some relationships and possibly a love triangle here, but more work needs to be done to make each character feel unique and to lay the groundwork for their relationships. Ultimately, the hair and uniforms are far more developed and interesting than the main characters.

Cocoon Entwined’s greatest strength is its gorgeous art. Yuriko Hara has a light and delicate style that is perfectly suited to the girls and academy. The illustrations of hair are flowing and wonderful, and at times feel like they move along the page. The environments, especially the garden, and majestic and the uniform design is top-notch. There are wonderful sprawling panels and pages here depicting the girls and their flowing, stunning hair. However, the best moments are when the uniforms are drawn “breathing” with wandering hairs grasping at the girls and the environment. It adds to the chilling atmosphere in such a deep visual way.

The art is phenomenal but there are a few flaws. The biggest of these is the character designs, which, while adequate, are far too similar to each other. This makes the already difficult task of keeping the characters straight nearly impossible. Additionally, some of the more dynamic scenes, such as a chapter when the characters dance together, feel stiff. The characters and their clothing often looks restricted. The effect is worsened when compared to the long flowing hair that dances across the same panels.

The first volume of Cocoon Entwined is an introduction, a prelude to what is hopefully a better series. The manga does an excellent job of setting up its world and hints at some intriguing stories. However, future volumes will need to focus the story to a central plotline or conflict and flush out some of the characters. Overall, Cocoon Entwined is dripping with atmosphere, astounding artwork, and potential. The series can easily go from here to be a unique and inspired work or an aimless confused mess. However, on this volume alone it is nearly impossible to tell what the future will hold. Because of this, readers should definitely keep an eye on Cocoon Entwined.

Ratings: Story – 6 Characters – 3 Art – 9 LGBTQ – 2 Lewd – 0 Final – 5

Purchase Cocoon Entwined in print and digital: https://amzn.to/2HdPemf

Review Copy Provided by @yenpress

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